“It’s sharing your gifts, not purchasing gifts;
it’s not wrapping presents, it’s being present
and wrapping your arms around the ones you
love;

It’s displaying the Christ light that comes from
your heart;
it’s not Santa coming down the chimney,
it’s Jesus coming down from heaven,

it’s not getting Christmas cards out on time,
and giving us the gift of eternal life.”
it’s sending any card, anytime, at the right
time;
Anonymous

“Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did
it for me. “
Matthew 25: 4
Armenia Fund
I would like to thank all students and parents who participated in this worthy cause by sending their
contributions. A group of students accompanied by
Mrs. Linda Kandilian presented the check in the amount
of $ 3,250.00 to Armenia Fund telethon on
Thanksgiving Day.

CHRISTMAS PROJECT / FOOD
DRIVE
Special thanks to all students and parents for bringing
non-perishable food for the less fortunate people. The
collected items were sent to Catholic Charities organization to be distributed to needy local families. Your
Christmas will have a special and joyful meaning because you have reached out to someone in need.

ASA

December 2011

Just like every year at the Armenian Sisterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Academy, the fourth through eighth grade students had a chance to elect a
student council. Before the elections, sixth through eighth grade students that were running for office had the chance to
put up their posters around the school and prepare their speeches. On the day of the speeches, many of these students were
nervous, hoping their speeches would convince their fellow classmates and other students to vote for them. All of the candidates did a great job on their speeches, and all they could do after that was anxiously wait until Monday for the other
students to make up their mind and vote for their favorites. A couple of days later, the votes were in, and students, like
me, were eager to know their positions in the student council. Students from all three grades were elected, and of these
students were excited to have the opportunity to be in student council and to make the school a better place. I was elected
student body president, and when I heard my name being called that morning, I was excited and nervous at the same time,
already thinking what I want to accomplish for this year. I am sure that this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s student council will accomplish more
than any yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s group has, and I have very high expectations for this intelligent group of students that I am very lucky to
have a chance to work with.
-Tamar Kazazian

ASA

December 2011

To our mock trial students for their participation and advancement . Good job !

“All rise, superior court of the County of Los Angeles, State of California is now in session with the honorable Judge presiding. Please be seated and come to
order!” The bailiff’s voice still echoed in the courtroom. I felt my insides tremble and my
palms moist with sweat. I am sure my fellow team members were in no better condition
than I.
Welcome to the trial of Ryan Buchel, who has been charged with murder and unlawful position of a concealed weapon. He is to be put on trial and found either guilty or not
guilty. The prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ryan Buchel is guilty.
In our mock trial competitions, a person is put on the stand for breaking the law, and students reenact what an actual trial would have been like. The trials take place in a real
courtroom in front of a real judge. Your fate rests on the effort of your teammates. On three
special days, we have been given the opportunity to do this very thing. Did Ryan Buchel
really kill Becca Abaless?
The courtroom was packed with people, mostly relatives. Though I must say, our
competition was no greater than mere sixth-graders, one of whom was complete with reddish brown curly hair, freckles, cute dimples when she smiled and a bit of squeakiness in
her voice. Too cute. After the judge concluded with her speech, filled with good lucks and
complements, the competition began. Our team, which included 7th and 8th graders, had
three prosecution attorneys: Tamar Kazazian, Shant Parpirian, and Amely Teltcher. We

ASA

December 2011

Schwartz (a coroner who autopsied the victim’s body), and Raquel Gugasian playing Kai
Mauer (a dormitory RA who seemed to have seen Ryan near the crime seen a little before
the death of the victim), and one court clerk, Christianna Bethel. After the opening statement was complete, all the witnesses had taken the stand, and the closing arguments were
complete, both teams were congratulated for our efforts and dismissed.
All my friends were worried sick about their roles and duties, for if they were to even
accidentally speak the wrong words, it could cost our team and the competition. Trying our
best, we pulled through, breaking and crushing the other team.
On our next competition, we were going up against a stronger team, not cute, short
and adorable like the sixth graders, but more like a mix from all middle school grades. Our
team of 7th and 8th graders, this time, included three attorneys, Peter Demirjian, Michal
Gharibian, and William Ovasapian, four witnesses, Hrag Hamboyan playing A.G. Prout (a
druggy who is Ryan’s best friend), Minas Arakelian (playing Ryan Buchel a wealthy trust
fund kid who supposedly killed his best friend to prevent her from reporting him to the student judicial affairs committee who could ruin his chances with a twenty million dollar trust
fund), Tamar Kazazian as Dr. Shartsis (a medical doctor who studied Becca’s body), and
Christianna Bethel as Sasha Fain (who claims to have seen the suspect at the time of the
murder far away from the crime scene), and one bailiff, Shant Papirian.
We had advanced to the third stage, the farthest an A.S.A has ever gone. The other
team was good, good enough to win and continue, leaving us in the dust. The Judge congratulated us for our victory and explained to us that only one team could move on, and the
competition had gotten tougher. I, the clerk, had an unofficial timekeeper breathing down
my back waiting for me just to mess up. The attorneys objected to almost every question
we gave out.
After months of preparation and hard work, we were given the disappointing news that we
would not advance. I would like to especially tank our coaches Mrs. Ani Parpirain and Mr.
William Basset for taking us this far. This fun and entertaining sport is enjoyable for middle
school kids like myself. I highly recommend it. For all those kids out there thinking about
being lawyers, you will love this!

Christianna Bethel

Our deepest sympathy to
*Mr. & Mrs. Bedrick on the death of Albrik’s beloved mother.
* Mr. & Mrs. Awades on the death of Silva’s beloved father.
*Mr.& Mrs. Soghomonian on the death of Raffi’s beloved father.
May their souls rest in the Kingdom of Heaven and the Lord grant
their families consolation.

ASA

December 2011

Dear Parents,
Every time we send out a letter to you it may seem that we are asking for something. This time, the purpose of
this letter is to thank you for your generous contributions to our school and wish you Merry Christmas.
In October, we celebrated Armenian Cultural Day. Through the raffles and games, the preschool was able to
raise $1040, and the Christmas bake sale generated $400, for the total of $1440. As mentioned earlier, the
money is earmarked to purchase a shade structure for the small playground area. We are in the process of getting estimates at this point. If you are or know of someone involved with this kind of business, please let me
know.
I also want to take this opportunity to welcome Mrs. Salpi Garavarian - Orange B and Mrs. Maria Kasparian
Orange A, to our school family. I’m confident they will be a valuable addition to our school.
I want to thank Mr.and Mrs. Shahan and Nellie Yacoubian, parents of Lori Yacoubian in BB for donating Lori’s
birthday gifts of $550 to her classroom.
I want to thank the Baghedjian, Dersahakian, Ghazarian, Jamijian, Jivalagian, Kasparian, Labejian, Mikailain,
Papoukhian, salibian, Topajikian, Yacoubian and Yousif Families for donating four carpets to Kindergarten B.
I want to thank the families of the following students for donating educational toys and books to their classroom:
In Yellow: William Sultanian
In Orange A: Anya Mooradian and Lara Hanneyan
In Orange B: Kristy Tarbinian
In Blue A:Lilly Dabbaghian, Aleeq Keshishian, Talar Taslakian, Sophie Paloulian, Alex Kabadayan,Lily Tanossian, Armen Kozanian, Claudette Sarkissian and Alec Haig.
In Blue B: Serena and Kayla Akarjalian
In KA: Matthew Gosdanian.
It’s December, and Christmas is around the corner. We all want the best for our children. We provide them
educational and material things to make them happy and show them love. We get so caught up with the material world that we forget the greatest gift that will not cost us a penny. This Holiday season, you will be enjoying your children’s presence with you for two weeks. Take this opportunity to spend some quality time with
your precious children. Play with them, read to them, begin a tradition with your child and give them the best
gift of all- Love. Remember that time passes quickly and they will never be this age again.
On behalf of the preschool staff and students, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
GOD bless you and your family!
Warm Regards,
Sonia Kazandjian
ASA Pre-School Director

On Friday, December 2, 2011, 180 of us including students from grades 1st – 6th, teachers, parents, Sister Lucia
and I boarded 3 buses and headed to LACHSA.
We were one of the few fortunate schools to have been offered a unique and one of a kind opportunity to attend a “Winter Orchestra Concert” with music for the holidays featuring the LACHSA (Los Angeles County
High School for the Arts) Symphony Orchestra at the CSULA Luckman auditorium performed by 100 orchestra
student musicians.
Through a generous grant from benefactors for LACHSA this trip, including 180 tickets and 3 buses, was at no
cost to us.
I would like to thank my niece Amanda Harris, former ASA student and now a student at LACHSA for introducing us to this opportunity.

On behalf of Sister Lucia and I, we would like to offer our thanks and gratitude to LACHSA and specially Dr.
Suzanna Guzman, famed mezzo-soprano, and Director of Community Engagement for this kind and very generous opportunity.
Our 7th and 8th graders will see students of LACHSA perform the play “Odessey” by Homer in February.
In the group picture second row in the middle
Suzanna Guzmán is a Principal artist with the Los Angeles Opera appearing in the operas Giulio Cesare, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Florencita en el Amazonas, Gianni Schicchi Peter Grimes,The Marriage of Figaro, Faust and more.
She has also appeared as soloist with many other American and international opera companies. These include
the Metropolitan Opera, the Kennedy Center, Dresden Opera, Opera de Nice, Grand Theatre de Geneve. Ms.
Guzmán was a featured soloist on the Grammy- nominated album for best classical album: Carlos Chavez Volume 3 with Southwest Chamber Music, soprano Alba Quezada and Tambuco Percussion Ensemble of Mexico.
Mrs. Armine Sherikian

ASA

December 2011

*Mrs. Ani Papirian , Mrs. Naris Bethel– Khalatian Mr. Saro Kerkonian for devoting their time and
energy in training the students to participate in the mock trial.
*Mr. Armen Markarian for taking care of the electrical maintenance in the school and donating part
of the repair cost.
*Mr. & Mrs. Dr. Nishan Odabashian for organizing the drive through coffee and pastry sale, donation from “Merengue” Bakery, and donating the entire profit to the school.
*Mr.. & Mrs. Noubar Derbedrossian for organizing the taco sale and donating the entire profit to the
school .
* Mrs. Julia Malakian for her donation of $300.00 as part of the Gift Match Program.
*Mr.& Mrs. Papazian for their donation of a beautiful piano to the sisters.
*The Parents Auxiliary for the two days hospitality prepared for the special visitors, the Honorable
Assemblyman Mike Gatto and the Eminence Bishop Michael Mouradian Eparch of the Armenian
Catholic in the United States and Canada.
*Mr.& Mrs. Garo Kurkjian for donating a camera zoom lense for our school camera.
May the Lord reward your kindness a hundredfold.

*Mr. & Mrs. Zakarian on the birth of their son, Raffi. Proud brother Aren is in Yellow class..
*Mr. &Mrs. Samuelian on the birth of their daughter, Vania. Proud sister Aileen is in First B.
*Mr. & Mrs. Salibian on the birth of their twin boys, Nareg and Arek Proud brother George is in
kindergarten.

Dr. Nishan Odabashian parent of Galia in 2nd grade and
Serge in Blue B for his recent appointment as
President-Elect of The International Academy of Endodontic
(only 120 members throughout the world).